Latest KFF Health News Stories
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Fact-Checking President Trump’s State Of The Union
President Donald Trump spent a good deal of time on health issues in his State of the Union address, but not everything he said checks out. Meanwhile, Iowa Democrats heading into the caucuses said health is their top issue, but it’s hard to see how that played out in their actual choices. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews KHN’s Julie Appleby and NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin about the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Michigan, Georgia, Missouri, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, District Of Columbia, Texas, Massachusetts, California, and Minnesota.
Research Roundup: HIV Treatment Costs, Antibiotic Policies, Binge Drinking And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
It was an interesting strategy for Juul and other e-cigarette executives to take considering the FDA has continuously rung the alarm over the vaping crisis. They even invoked former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who has been vocal in leading the charge against youth vaping. Meanwhile, a nationwide flavor ban is set to go into effect today. What does that mean?
Merck’s rivals Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have made similar moves. In addition to women’s health medicines and older, off-patent brands, the new business will include the less expensive versions of branded biotech drugs. In other pharmaceutical news: a multiple sclerosis drug, patents for HIV prevention pills, recalls, biotech news and more.
The health systems say they’re worried the interoperability rule “will be overly burdensome on our health system and will endanger patient privacy.” HHS Secretary Alex Azar has in the past expressed frustration that stakeholders push back fiercely against the rules. In other news at the intersection of health and technology: why electronic health records annoy burned-out doctors, a software deal, and a fraud charge.
The federal investigation follows a burst of violence that began in late December and prompted the lockdown of prisons across the state. The crisis has resulted in at least 15 inmate deaths in recent weeks.
A closer look at 2020 hopeful and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s plan to curb high drug prices reveals progressive strategies that would be unlikely to go over well with pharma. State takes a deep dive. Meanwhile, will President Donald Trump’s mention of drug prices in the State of the Union address actually lead to progress on the issue?
Using the hospitals as the ”doorway” will improve initial treatment for opioid users and follow-up care, Gov. Chris Sununu says. News on the epidemic reports on methadone treatment and improving treatment in rural areas and jails, as well.
Next Generation Of Sutures Could Use More Compatible Yarn Grown From Human Skin, Researchers Say
The tissue-engineered products are made from skin cells. “This novel strategy holds the promise of a next generation of medical textiles that will be mechanically strong without any foreign scaffolding,” the researchers reported. Public health news is on blood cancer therapy, advocacy work for LBGTQ youth, homeless students, and an African American’s efforts to help others with breast cancer, as well.
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said his former undersecretary James Byrne “was not jelling with other members of the team.” Byrne was a popular leader within the veterans community, however, so Wilkie is being forced to defend his decision to let him go. He tied Byrne’s firing to an effort across the Department of Veterans Affairs to hold poor performers accountable.
ICE countered that multiple neurological exams conducted on the boy revealed no medical issues but that the boy was hospitalized on Tuesday and Wednesday “for additional evaluation.”
An Arcane Rule Proposed By CMS Could Lead To Significant Medicaid Cuts, Governors Warn
CMS Administrator Seema Verma said that the rule would help the agency increase “transparency, integrity and clarity,” in Medicaid funding for states. But some governors warn her that the rule could force them to seek broad tax increases, cut payments to hospitals and doctors, reduce benefits, restrict eligibility, or some combination of such measures. Medicaid news comes out of Alaska, Tennessee and Florida, as well.
“Maybe we can’t catch every returning traveler, but if we can catch the majority of them, we will slow the spread of the virus in the United States,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “We have a window of opportunity here.” Media outlets take a look inside what it’s like to be under government or self-imposed quarantine.
WHO has said “epidemics in the 21st century are spreading faster and farther than ever” and there’s always another one waiting to strike. If coronavirus is contained, what will the next pandemic look like? Meanwhile, scientists try to answer key questions about the outbreak, such as: why we aren’t seeing more sick kids, how the virus spreads, when it will peak, what the best way to prevent transmission is, and more.
On Monday, the number of confirmed cases was put at 20,438. By Thursday that number is up to 28,018. Meanwhile, WHO said as of Tuesday it had received complete reports for only about 38% of coronavirus cases reported outside of China. Since then, “the number of countries we’ve received comprehensive data from is improving, but not complete,” said Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program. In other global news on the outbreak: home remedies, hospitals and medical staff, quarantined cruise ships, and more.
First Edition: February 6, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Patients Caught In Crossfire Between Giant Hospital Chain, Large Insurer
Insurance giant Cigna and San Francisco-based Dignity Health have failed to ink a 2020 contract, leaving nearly 17,000 patients in California and Nevada scrambling to find new health care providers. Meanwhile, Dignity faces financial and legal challenges while it strives to implement its merger with Catholic Health Initiatives, which created one of the nation’s largest Catholic hospital systems.